MT PLEASANT, UT, USA
N8261N
PIPER PA-28-140
THE PILOT LOADED HIS AIRCRAFT TO WITHIN 50 POUNDS OF GROSS WEIGHT AND ATTEMPTED A SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 8000 FEET. AFTER LIFT-OFF HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS FROM 25 DEGREES TO 10 DEGREES AND THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO ACCELERATE, BUT NOTED THAT HIS AIRSPEED HAD DECAYED ABOUT 15 MPH, AND THE STALL WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. HE LOWERED THE NOSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN AIRSPEED OR RECOVER FROM AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO AVOID SOME OBSTACLES AND TERRAIN, BUT CRASHED IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT HE HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO WIND SHEAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
On September 3, 1995, approximately 2020 mountain daylight time, N8261N, a Piper PA-28-140, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during climbout after departure from the Mount Pleasant, Utah, airport. The private pilot and his three passengers sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the local flight and the ELT actuated but did not assist in locating the accident site. When he submitted his NTSB 6120.1/2 written statement, the pilot stated that he calculated density altitude at 8000 feet and determined that the aircraft was about 50 pounds under gross weight. He elected to make a short field takeoff, using two notches of flap (25 degrees). He said he broke ground at about 62-65 mph and accelerated to 75 mph (approximately best rate-of- climb airspeed). He said he reduced to one notch of flaps and, at about 150 feet above the ground, he leveled off to accelerate, noting that he had cleared all terrain and obstacles. He noted then that his airspeed had decayed about 15 mph and the stall warning light was on. He lowered the nose to accelerate and turned east into the wind and maneuvered to avoid buildings while the aircraft continued sinking. The aircraft crashed in a hospital parking lot. During an interview with the pilot conducted by an FAA inspector on the day following the accident, the pilot stated that he did not do a performance computation prior to departure. He instead relied on his experience with this aircraft, having had four adults in the airplane on previous occasions and had no trouble taking off without incident. The pilot concluded that the engine did not lose power during the flight. In his written statement, the pilot indicated that he believed he was subject to wind shear at the time of the accident.
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMBOUT. FACTORS INCLUDE WIND SHEAR AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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